Ex-Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Strongly Criticizes Adam Foote's Ability to Coach Elias Pettersson
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images.
An ex-Vancouver Canucks Head Coach was critical of how the current bench boss, Adam Foote, has been using his first line centerman, Elias Pettersson, this season.
We're nine games into the 2025-26 season and the Vancouver Canucks currently sit sixth in the Pacific Division with a record of 4-5-0 and have lost three in a row entering action on Sunday.
Prior to last night's loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Elias Pettersson had four points in eight games and while he might not have looked like his normal self early on, he was still playing well, but wasn't getting the ice time he deserved from his Head Coach.
"You're paying this guy $11.6 million, Don. You pay him to him to produce. On a night where there's three Abbotsford centers, there's no Blueger, there's no Chytil. This is the night when Pettersson should be at 15:05, not Raty." Rick Dhaliwal said on Friday.
He later when on to add, "What are you doing? Like why is Pettersson making $11.6 million, the other guys' salaries, I think all three of those guys are making under a million dollars."
He later when on to add, "What are you doing? Like why is Pettersson making $11.6 million, the other guys' salaries, I think all three of those guys are making under a million dollars."
Ex-Vancouver Canucks Head Coach critical of Adam Foote's usage of Elias Pettersson
During a recent appearance on Donnie & Dhali, former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau was asked for his thoughts about Elias Pettersson's play and his ice time to start the season.
Boudreau said that Elias Pettersson is key to getting Vancouver where they want to go, which is ultimately the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing out last year, adding that he has to be "the head of the snake", playing big minutes in all situations.
"I'm surprised, he doesn't look like he's handling the puck enough. When he's got the puck, then things are created. He needs to have the puck to be able to draw people in to make plays." Boudreau said.
He added, "If Vancouver wants to go anywhere and wants to win, then I mean, automatically he's got to be the head of the snake. He's got to be the guy that creates everything."
He added, "If Vancouver wants to go anywhere and wants to win, then I mean, automatically he's got to be the head of the snake. He's got to be the guy that creates everything."
Last night against Montreal, Elias Pettersson had his highest ice time of the season at 21:47 and while the Canucks might have lost, the Sundsvall, Sweden native picked up his first three-point game since December 1st, 2024.
"X marks the spot❗️"
Pettersson and the Canucks will look to put an end to their current slide tonight as they take on the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena, with puck drop set for just after 7 p.m. PT.
Source: Trevor Beggs/Daily Hive
Bruce Boudreau takes jab at Vancouver Canucks' coach Foote for not playing Pettersson more
Bruce Boudreau takes jab at Vancouver Canucks' coach Foote for not playing Pettersson more
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 26 | 1328 ANSWERS Ex-Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Strongly Criticizes Adam Foote's Ability to Coach Elias Pettersson Do you think Adam Foote needs to play Elias Pettersson more? | ||
| Yes | 967 | 72.8 % |
| No | 361 | 27.2 % |
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